Margaret C. Wang, LMFT Psychotherapist

Margaret C. Wang, LMFT Psychotherapist Margaret C. Wang, LMFT offers psychotherapy in the state of California via telehealth. Wang, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, IMF #132544
M.A.

Santa Clara University Counseling Psychology

I offer individual and group therapy via phone and video, while ensuring that the telehealth medium is secured and confidential. Maybe you look amazing on paper but your insides don't mirror that. Or you feel stuck and your fears are holding you back. I'm excited to tell you that you can get everything done EVEN IF it doesn't seem like there's enough time in the day. When working with clients, my focus is on making sure that you feel heard and understood. I find that it is so important to approach my work with non-judgment and openness. Whether you are working through intergenerational trauma, or are hoping to overcome symptoms of depression, I am here. I find that it's imperative that we collaborate and you determine your goals because you know yourself best. I’m here to help you better manage whatever circumstances are leaving you feeling helpless, and I will equip you with the skills to cope with difficult emotions.

12/31/2025

Do you ever feel like you’re
expected to be a mind-reader? 🧠✨

​Today, I’m talking about the experience of having a parent or family member who has big emotions but lacks the vulnerability to actually communicate them. Instead of saying "I'm hurt," they might shut down, say they’re "just tired," or leave the room.

​The result?

There’s an underlying expectation that you should automatically know how to take care of their needs. When vulnerability feels too scary for them, it often comes out as passive-aggressive behavior instead.

​The hard truth:

Healing this dynamic means acknowledging that it will feel uncomfortable. By choosing to communicate differently, you are actively changing generational patterns—and that is a really big deal. 🕊️

​Learning to actually name what you need is a skill that takes time to build.

For example:

👇🏼 If you’re anxious:
You might need reassurance.
👇🏼 If you’re hurt: You might need comfort.
👇🏼 If you’re angry: You might need to be heard.

​Start practicing how you meet those needs for yourself and how you ask for them from others. Find what fits for you. 🤍



We don’t talk enough about the middle of healing.The part where you’re doing the work… and things are still hard.Mental ...
12/31/2025

We don’t talk enough about the middle of healing.

The part where you’re doing the work…
and things are still hard.

Mental health isn’t always a clean arc from pain to relief. Sometimes progress looks like learning how to stay present with what hasn’t changed yet. Sometimes it’s building a life around symptoms, not waiting for them to disappear.🕯

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re “behind” because you’re still struggling—there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not failing. You’re responding to something real.✨️

And if today all you can honestly say is,
“I’m trying—and this still hurts,” that counts.
You don’t have to be optimistic.
You just have to be here.💛

💬 If this resonates, feel free to DM me.


12/29/2025

Mental Health Isn’t Always
About Getting Better

There needs to be a narrative beyond
struggle → triumph
when discussing mental health issues. 🧠

When we focus only on those stories, we leave little space for people who are still struggling.

It’s not always about symptoms disappearing; sometimes it’s about learning how to live with them.

Making a diagnosis “go away” may not be realistic—and that matters.🔍

Be gentle with yourself if you’re still in a period of darkness.

Healing isn’t always about having
a positive attitude.
Sometimes it’s simply acknowledging:
“I’m doing everything I can to take care of myself—and it still sucks.”🕯

If you're still struggling, know that you're not alone. Feel free to DM me.

If you’ve ever felt like you were "too much"—too sensitive, too emotional, too needy—this might resonate.Those beliefs d...
12/26/2025

If you’ve ever felt like you were "too much"—too sensitive, too emotional, too needy—
this might resonate.

Those beliefs don’t come out of nowhere. They’re often shaped over time, through repeated experiences that taught you to doubt your needs or quiet yourself to stay connected. Eventually, that inner narrative becomes familiar… even when it’s painful.

Learning to trust yourself again doesn’t happen in big, dramatic moments. It shows up in small pauses. Noticing your body. Listening when something feels off. Letting yourself need support, even if it feels uncomfortable.
You’re not a burden for having feelings. You’re human.

If this landed and you’re feeling tired of carrying it alone, feel free to DM me 💬


12/24/2025

If You Feel Like You're “Too Much,”
This Is For You

First of all:
You’re not a burden.

Maybe you’ve internalized messages that you’re “too much”—too sensitive, or that you have “too many feelings.”

👣 A visual I like:
The thoughts in your internal narrative are like a well-worn path. Over time, this path becomes a deep groove in the ground. Choosing a different path—the one that’s less familiar, with branches in the way—takes more effort at first. And it takes time to become familiar with this new path.

🩻 Trusting yourself = small adjustments
It looks like listening to physical cues and responding when you’re tired or in pain. It might mean taking one extra second to notice tension in your body instead of pushing past it.

💭 Try offering yourself a new message (and adjust it so it feels true to you):
“I might feel like a burden—and it’s still okay to ask for help, even if it feels uncomfortable.”

💬 If you’re tired of feeling like a burden, feel free to DM me.


Learning to set boundaries—especially with family—often comes with guilt, fear, and old narratives about being “ungratef...
12/24/2025

Learning to set boundaries—especially with family—often comes with guilt, fear, and old narratives about being “ungrateful.”

But boundaries don’t have to be loud or confrontational to be real. Sometimes they’re quiet decisions you make to protect your energy, your time, and your emotional well-being.

You’re allowed to take care of yourself and care about others.

Those two things can exist at the same time.
If guilt shows up when you try to set limits, you’re not doing it wrong—you’re doing something new.

💬 If this resonates and you want support navigating boundaries, feel free to DM me.

12/23/2025

Setting Boundaries
Without Being “Ungrateful”

Let’s say you want to say something to a family member, but you don’t want to be perceived as ungrateful.
Reclaiming your voice and your space can feel risky.

This might look like:

1) Setting internal boundaries—creating limits for yourself without necessarily telling the other person, unless absolutely necessary. This isn’t about harming them; it’s about keeping yourself safe and protecting your limits. This can be especially helpful if you’re unsure how they’ll respond, or if you know they won’t respond well.

2) Examples of internal boundaries:

“I’m going to stay at the event for one hour.”

“I’m not going to respond to calls or texts unless I know the person will respond appropriately.”

3) Surrounding yourself with people you don’t have to over-explain yourself to—people who understand you.

4) Saying no or opting out doesn’t mean you don’t love them. It simply means you’re taking care of yourself.
And a reminder: this doesn’t have to be forever—it can just be the decision you’re making today.

If you’re struggling with guilt around boundaries, DM me and we can talk.

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Why structure can be so helpful Structure refers to small, repeatable habits—things you do regularly and can anticipate....
12/18/2025

Why structure can be so helpful

Structure refers to small, repeatable habits—things you do regularly and can anticipate.
Examples might include engaging in a daily morning routine or doing a familiar movement routine on certain days. Predictability helps your nervous system feel more settled.

🧠 Why this matters:
Consistent routines support self-regulation and create a sense of safety in the body.

💤 Sleep support (with an important note):
Having a wind-down routine can help signal to your body that it’s time to rest—like doing the same few steps before bed each night. Over time, your body begins to associate those cues with sleep.
⚠️ For bedtime routines, it's a lot easier said than done. These routines can be supportive, but they don’t “fix” insomnia or more complex sleep issues.

⚡ Less decision fatigue:
When parts of your day are predictable, your brain uses less energy deciding what to do next. That frees up mental space for things that actually matter to you.

💬 If routines feel hard, you’re NOT failing.
Feel free to DM me and let’s talk about it.



12/18/2025

Why Routine Feels So Regulating
(Even If You Hate It)

Structure is something you do on
a regular basis—it’s predictable.

Examples: Going to the same coffee shop once a week, or doing the
same movement routine twice a week.

Why is this helpful?
🩻 Structure supports self-regulation and builds a sense of safety.

💤 It can help with sleep.
Having the same bedtime routine helps prepare your body for rest. When you repeat the same activities before bed, your body begins to associate those activities with sleep.

🧠 It reduces decision fatigue.
When you have a set routine or schedule, your body can anticipate what’s coming. Instead of using energy to make constant decisions, you can redirect that energy toward things that actually matter to you.

If you struggle with routine, feel free to DM me—let’s chat.



What Does Emotional Regulation Actually Mean? And Why It Matters 🌿Emotional regulation isn’t about staying calm all the ...
12/16/2025

What Does Emotional Regulation
Actually Mean? And Why It Matters 🌿

Emotional regulation isn’t about staying calm all the time—it’s about how you respond when something activates you. It’s your capacity to adapt, recover, and care for yourself when your nervous system is under stress. ⚡️

When we can regulate, we’re less likely to burn energy reacting or staying stuck in fight-or-flight. This isn’t about suppressing emotions—it’s about supporting your nervous system so feelings can move through without taking over. 💨

Ways to practice emotional regulation:
⌚️ Build gentle routines so your body knows what to expect
🙂🫤🙁 Name what you’re feeling (emotion charts can help)
💡 Check in with your needs—comfort, rest, space, or validation

Instagram

12/15/2025

Not Calm, Not Numb—Regulated

🌿 It’s about how we respond to situations—our ability to adapt and take care of ourselves when we’re triggered.

⚡️ At its core, emotional regulation helps us avoid “flipping out” and burning unnecessary energy.

💨 It’s about our ability to regulate our nervous system, not suppress emotions.

What You Can Do:
⌚️ Create structure or routine
so your body knows what to expect.

🙂🫤🙁 Identify your emotions;
use an emotions chart if needed.

💡 Ask yourself what you need
—physical comfort, a break, or to be understood.

If this resonates, feel free to DM me and let’s talk.

12/11/2025

➡️Why It’s Easier to Stay Busy

✨️ On the surface, it can feel like we just prefer being on the go. But on a deeper level, slowing down can feel scary or overwhelming because it means actually sitting with your feelings.

🎯 We’re going back to one of my staples — the 1–5 scale. Pinpoint what you're feeling on a scale of 1 to 5, and choose the emotion you have the most difficulty with or encounter most often.
Example:
If you experience anxiety consistently:
1 = calm
2 = anxious
3 = worried
4 = distressed
5 = panicked

🧩Start incorporating moments of not pushing away the emotion, along with instances of intentional distraction.

💬If you're wondering why you stay busy
even when you’re exhausted, feel free to DM me, and let's chat.

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